The Hawaii Rainbow Wahine finally took advantage of numerous scoring chances with four second-half goals to defeat Boise State 5-1 in a Western Athletic Conference soccer match at the Waipio Peninsula Soccer Park Stadium last night. Wahine’s hot finish
overwhelms Boise State
By Al Chase
achase@starbulletin.comNatasha Kai recorded her second hat trick of the season to help the Wahine (7-7-2, 3-2-0 WAC) overcome an opening half that was marked with wasted scoring opportunities.
"If we get it done early the game opens up, the play is quality and the passes are better," said UH coach Pinsoom Tenzing.
The Wahine got on the scoreboard first at 15:32 following three frustrating misses on one-on-one fast breaks by Kai -- who hit the crossbar, chipped a shot over the bar and was denied on a diving save at the 18-yard line by Boise State goalkeeper Amy Ortmann.
Another fast break had Arlene Devitt crossing form the left corner. The ball was cleared right back to her. The junior from Kauai crossed again, this time low to Erin Quattromani, who controlled, then drove the ball inside the near post from 14 yards out.
Ortmann was forced to make a diving stop on Kai's head shot off a Quattromani corner kick at 27 minutes as Hawaii kept the offensive pressure on, limiting the Broncos to long-range shots at the other end. Boise State played an effective offside game, catching UH strikes eight times.
The Broncos (5-9-1, 1-5-0) had two good scoring opportunities late in the first half. Tara Milligan crossed right to left to Coby Meikle, whose 10-yard attempt was high at 36:59. Milligan raced on to a through ball at 41:43, but had her 13-yard shot from the right side blocked by UH goalkeeper Mahie Atay.
The teams swapped goals in the first minute of the second half.
Kai took a through pass from Devitt and dribbled around Ortmann to score at 45:29. It was Devitt's seventh assist of the year, a season high, and the 15th of her career, also a school mark.
Boise State responded with a drive down the right wing. BreeAnn Milligan took the ball deep into the corner and crossed to Abbe Roche, whose 11-yard shot beat Atay inside the right post at 45:52.
The Wahine grabbed a 3-1 lead at 66:49, when Natalie Groenewoud battled for a ball in the right corner and forced a corner kick. Quattromani's left-footed offering was perfectly placed for an on-rushing Kai to head into the net.
Quattromani made the score 4-1 when she converted a penalty kick at 75:09 after Pam Fong, on a breakaway, was taken down by Ortmann inside the box.
Kai scored her third goal at 86:08 with a diving head shot off a free kick by Sasha Araya-Schraner.
UH Athletics
